Aerosol container with valve



Jan. 6, 1959 P. MEsHBERG AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH VALVE Filed Feb. 6, 1956 INVENTOR. Pin Z i M eshbe/ y ATTORNEYS tare Application February 6, 1956, Serial No. 563,567 13 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to an article of manufacture and a method of making the same and more specifically to an improved aerosol receptacle for containing a substance under pressure and a method of constructing the same to render it leak-proof.

Heretofore, in an aerosol type of receptacle comprising essentially a valve member and container, the valve member was connected to the upper end of the container simply by crimping, knurling or beading the adjoining end portions of the two members together to form the sealing connection. In sealing connections of this type it frequently occurred, as a result of increased internal pressure due to temperature, geographical, or other pressure influencing factors, that the valve mounting portion would be raised and a pressure leak would develop at the seam, causing the article to be rejected.

An object of the present invention is'to provide for an improved structure and method for connecting the valve member to the container so as to materially increase the sealing quality of the connection therebetween'and render the same leak-proof in the event the internal pressure of the receptacle is increased beyond that pressure normally contemplated.

According to this invention,this is accomplished by disposing between an inturned flange on the wall of the container and a valve member provided with a lateral mounting portion with a depending flange to form the closure therefor, a resilient sealing means which, when said members are secured together, is wedged or compressed between the cooperating portions thereof. Further, the sealing means may also be disposed between the depending flange and underlying side wall. The members are then secured together in a manner such that any increase of internal pressure within the container tends to prevent the development of any seepage or leakage between the cooperating members.

Constructing the leak-proof seam according to this invention, is best accomplished by turning in the upper end of the container to form a flange to cooperate with the valve member to wedge or compress a resilient sealing means between the inturned flange and lateral mounting portion and depending flange and underlying wall portion of the container, as the closing seam or connection is formed. This is accomplished by rolling inwardly an intermediate portion of the depending flange and cooperating underlying wall portion of the container. If desired, to further insure against leakage, the resilient sealing means adjacent the inturned flange is projected slightly beyond the inner periphery of the latter so that the internal pressure tends to directly force the projecting portion of the sealing means into firm engagement with the surface of the lateral mounting portion of the valve member to prevent seepage around the end of the sealing means.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the improved receptacle is relatively simple to manufacture, inexpensive to produce and positive in operation.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision whereby the resilient, elastomeric sealing material compressibly disposed between the walls of the container and the valve member can, in the event an internal increase of pressure causes the members to be displaced relative amounts, expand to maintain the sealing efliciency of the connection.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded front view, partly shown in section, of the improved receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the relative position of the parts prior to securing the valve to the container.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating the final assembled relationship of the improved receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of the valve member.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the assembled relationship of the modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the improved aerosol type of receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprises a container member 10 provided for enclosing wall portions 11 having inturned at the upper end thereof an integrally-formed flange 12 forming an opening 13 for the container. While the container member 10, according to this invention, may be formed in any well known manner, the illustrated form of the container comprises the seamless type which is generally made of aluminum or the like by impact extrusion. It will be understood that while the container may take any shape or form, the cylindrical form is illustrated.

A valve member or unit 14 is fitted over the opened end 13 to form a closure for the container 10. As illustrated, the valve member has a laterally extending mounting por tion 15 provided with an integrally-formed, encircling, depending flange 16, the central portion 17 of the valve member being raised toprovide a housing for a suitable valve means 18.

in order that the valve member 14 may be securely connected to the container 10 so as to form a leak-proof seal therebetween, a resilient, elastomeric, sealing means 19 is disposed between the valve member 14 and the container 19. As illustrated in Fig. l, the resilient sealing means consists of a flat, angular gasket member 20 which is adapted to seat on the inturned flange 12 of the container, and a second ring-shaped gasket 21 positioned adjacent the upper end of the container so asto embrace the walls thereof adjacent the inturned flange 12. By so disposing gaskets 20 and 21, it will be noted that the adjacent edge portions of the respective sealing members are in engagement with each other, thereby facilitating the formation of a leak-proof seal as willbe herein described.

The valve member 14 is provided with a diameter sufliciently large so that the depending flange may snugly fit the open end of the container with the ring gasket 21 disposed between the walls of the container adjacent the open end and the depending flange 16, see Fig. 2. With the parts assembled, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve member 14 is in position to be securely fastened to the container 10.

According to this invention, this is accomplished by inwardly bending, as by rolling, the depending flange 16 and underlying wall portion 22 of the container to form an annular groove 23 therearound. This bending, it will be noted, tends to pull the valve member 14 down tightly onto the container. As a result, the resilient sealing members 20 and 21 disposed between the depending flange and the adjacent wall portions of the container and between the inturned flange and the mounting portion of the valve member are compressed, thus forming a leakproof seal. Preferably, the edge of the flange is provided with a reverse bend which produces, in effect, a bend to strengthen the edge so that it will withstand greater internal pressures before yielding.

Since the force of the internal pressure acts substautially perpendicular to the walls of the containenit will be noted that the force acting on the inclined wall portion 22 tends to push "the same outwardly "and the "force acting upwardly on the inturned flange 12 tends to push .the same upwardly. Should the pressure tend to lift the mountingp'ortion -15 upwardly from'the container-so that a leak might occur between it and flange 12, itwill'afthe same time lift the depending fiangeupwardly which'would cause the inturned portion thereof to press the sealing means in the groove against the wall ofthe'container in the groove and increase the sea'ling'eflect'of the sealing material. Thus it will be noted that as the internal pressure increases, the force acting onthe respective wal portion 22 land'flange 12 is proportionately increased,'thereby further compressing the gasket member disposed therebetween. Consequently, a tighter seal'is formed as the pressure increases.

However, 'in the event that a pressure differential is exerted as a result 'of'the-variable force actingon the lateral extending'mounting portion 15' of the valve member and the inturned flange '16 of the container,-due to the amount of respective area exposed thereto, material strength of the receptacle, etc., causingthe mounting portion 15 to be displaced outwardly a greater amount than the flange l2,'then the compressed sealing member disposed therebetween will tend to expand slightly to take up the relative difference of displacement between the valve member and container'so that the upper and lower surfaces Zila and 20b respectively'of the sealing member 20 are constantly maintained in engagement with both inner surfaces of the valve member and the'upper surface of the flange to prevent leakagetherebetween.

If desired, the gasket member 20 is provided with a projecting inner peripheral portion 200 which extends slightly beyond the terminating edge 12a of the inturned flange wherebyadded insurance against seepage or-leakage is afforded. This is so because the force of the internal pressure exerted against the projecting tip 200 of the gasket 26 tends to directly maintain the projecting edge 200 in engagement with the lateral mounting portion of the valve member. Thus, leaking around the end and therebetween is unlikely. The second gasket 21'positioned around the wall backs up the first gasket member,

thereby insuring against leakage in the event the internal pressure is so greatly built up that the force thereof causes.

a portion of the pressure to leak past thegasket between the inturned flange and the mounting member of the valve member.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the valve member 30 is provided 'with a lateral extending mounting'portion 31 having an annular trough 32 adjacent the flange 33. Accordingly, the sealing means 34 consists of a resilient, elastomeric liner 35 which is flowed in to the valvemember. This is accomplished byrapidlyrotating the member '36 as the elastomeric material is flowed'therein. Centrifugalforce causes the material tobedeposited to the member as shown. It will'be noted that the peripheral portions 33a of the flange *34 are turned'in slightly'to prevent the sealing material from going beyond the edge thereof during the flowing in process.

-As shown in'Fig. 5, the valve member 30'is secured to the end of a flanged container '36 by-bending the flange 33 and underlying wall portion 36a inwardly as hereinbefore described. Thus, the liner 35 isrendered slightly compressible as were the gasket members '20 and 21 of Figs. 1 to 3. Thus, in operation and efliciency, the seal between the lined valve member 30 and container '36 is similar to that of the gasket type seal of Figs. lto 3. If desired, 'the liner 35 adhered to the mounting portion 31 may beextended beyond the edge of the inturned flange 37 so that the force of the internal pressure may act directly on the projectingportion 35a as hereinbefore described.

Thus 'it will be seen that, according to this invention, the container member is provided with an" annular flange by turning in the upper end portion thereof forming the 4 fiangedopening. Thevalve member is then provided with a liner either formed of avpair of gasket members disposed adjacent the flange and adjoining mounting portion at substantially right angles or by flowing in and adhering a unitary linerrnember adjacent the flange and adjoiningmounting portion. In either case, "the resilient gasket or linerportion adjacent the mounting section of the valve member may be rendered slightly wider than that of the inturnedflange. Thevalve member and included lining material are then positioned over the cont ainer opening so that the depending flange of'the valve member portion snugly embraces the upper end of the container so that'the resilient lining material is disposed between the'inturned flange andmounting portion and between the depending flange and wall of the container. The valvetmembenis then'pulled tightly down'relative to the container by rolling inwardly an annular groove intermediateithe ends not :the depending flange iand'underlying wall portion 'of'the container. By this operation, theresilientisealing means is compressed therebetween to form the leak-proof seal as. hereinbefore described.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope ofthe claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under 'pressure comprising a containing member-having an annular wall portion provided with an inturned flange adjacent the open end thereof, a valve unit having a valve means and a laterally extending mounting portion-provided with a depending flange at the-edge thereof projecting below said laterally'extending mounting portion, said valve unit being adapted to fit over said containing member forming a closure therefor with the depending flange engaging the annular wall, a pressure-sealing means including a resilient sealing member disposed between the valve unit and containing member adjacent'the respective flanges thereof, and means tightly securing said valve unit to said containing member wedging therebetween the resilient sealing member so that the sealing efficiency of the sealing means is maintained in the event of increased internal pressures within said receptacle.

2. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprising a containing member having an annular-wall portion provided with an inturned flange adjacent the open end thereof, a valve unit having a valve means and a laterally extending mounting portion providedwith a depending flange projecting below said laterallyextending mounting portion, said valve unit-being adapted to fit over said containing member forming a closure therefor with the depending flange engaging the annular wall, a pressure-sealing means formed of a resilient sealing material disposed between the valve unit and containing member adjacent the respective flanges thereof, said sealing means including a resilient gasket ring embracing said annular wall adjacent said inturned flange and a second resilient gasket overlying said inturnedflange, and means tightly securing said valve unit to said containing member so that said gaskets are wedged between said dependingflange and adjacent wall portion and between said inturned-flange and mounting portion wherebythe sealing efliciency of the sealing means is maintained in the event of increased internal pressures.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein a portion of said second gasket extends slightly beyond the inner peripheraledge portion of-said inturned fiange'so that the internal pressure within'saidreceptacle tends to maintain saidextending portion of said gasket in engagement with said valve mounting portion to insure against leakage around the edge thereof.

-4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the adjacent edge portions of said gaskets are in engagement with'each other.

5. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprising a cylindrical containing memher having an annular wall portion provided with an inturned flange adjacent the open end thereof, a closure member having a laterally extending mounting portion provided with a depending flange at the edge thereof adapted to fit over said containing member forming a closure therefor with said depending flange engaging the annular wall, said closure member including a lining of a resilient sealing material on said depending flange and adjacent mounting portion, and means tightly securing said closure member to said containing member for compressing the resilient liner between said depending flange and adjacent cooperating wall portion and between said inturned flange and cooperating mounting portion whereby the sealing efliciency of the receptacle is maintained in the event of increased internal pressures.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the portion of the lining on said mounting portion extends slightly beyond the inner peripheral edge of said inturned flange so that said internal pressures tend to maintain said extending portion in engagement with said mounting portion of said closure member to insure against leakage around the edge thereof.

7. A method of mounting a valve member having a laterally extending mounting portion provided with a depending flange to an aerosol container comprising the steps of turning in the upward end portions of the wall of the container to form an integral, annular inturned flange, positioning a resilient sealing member between said inturned flange and said mounting portion and between said depending flange and the wall of the container, and rolling the depending flange and underlying Wall portions of said container at an intermediate point of said depending flange to form an inwardly extending groove therein tightly wedging therebetween the resilient sealing member and securely connecting the valve member to the container to form a leak-proof seal therebetween. v

8. A method of mounting a valve member having a laterally extending mounting portion provided with a depending flange to an aerosol container comprising the steps of turning in the upward end portions of the wall of the container to form an integral, annular inturned flange, lining said valve member with a resilient liner adjacent said flange and cooperating mounting portions thereof, positioning said valve member on said container so as to position said lining between said depending flange and underlying wall portion and between said inturned flange and overlying mounting portion and rolling the depending flange and underlying wall portions of said container at an intermediate point of said depending flange to form an inwardly extending groove therearound, tightly wedging the resilient liner and securely connecting the valve member to the container to form a leak-proof sealed connection therebetween.

9. A method of mounting a valve member having a laterally extending mounting portion provided with a depending flange to an aerosol container comprising the steps of turning in the upward end portions of the wall of the container to form an integral, annular inturned flange, disposing a first resilient gasket between said inturned flange and said mounting portion and a second resilient gasket between said depending flange and the wall of the container, and rolling the depending flange and underlying wall portions of said container at a point inwardly from the edge of said depending flange to form an inwardly extending groove therearound tightly wedging therebetween the resilient gasket and securely connecting the valve member to the container to form a leak-proof seal therebetween.

10. A method of mounting a valve member having a laterally extending mounting portion provided with a depending flange to an aerosol container comprising the steps of turning in the upward end portions of the wall of the container to form an integral, annular inturned flange, positioning a unitary resilient sealing member in said valve member adjacent said depending flange and .immediately adjoining mounting portion, placing said valve member on said container so that said sealing member is disposed between said inturned flange and said mounting portion and between said depending flange and the wall of the container, and rolling the depending flange and underlying wall portions of said container at an intermediate point of said depending flange to form an inwardly extending groove therein tightly wedging therebetween the resilient sealing member and securely connecting the valve member to the container to form a leak-proof seal therebetween.

11. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprising a containing member having an annular wall provided with an inturned flange adjacent the open end, a valve unit having a valve means and a laterally extending mounting portion to fit over the open end of the containing member to form a closure therefor and having a depending flange to fit over said annular wall, a resilient sealing member between the inturned flange and mounting member and extending beyond the inner peripheral edge portion of said inturned flange so that said internal pressure within the containing member tends to maintain the projecting edge of the sealing member in engagement with the mounting member, and means tightly securing the valve unit in sealed relation with the containing member comprising an inward annular bend in said depending flange of the valve unit, said bend being spaced inwardly from the edge of the flange, and a cooperating bend in the underlying wall portion of the containing member to form interlocking grooves.

12. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprising a containing member having an annular wall adjacent the open end thereof, a valve unit having a valve means and a laterally extending mounting portion to fit over the open end of the containing member to form a closure therefor and having a depending flange to fit over said annular Wall, a resilient sealing member disposed between said annular wall and the overlying flange, and means tightly securing the valve unit to the container comprising an inward, annular bend in said flange of the valve unit, said bend being spaced inwardly fromthe edge of the flange, and a cooperating bend in the underlying Wall portion of the containing member to form an annular groove therearound and securely wedge the sealing member therebetween, the pressure in the container causing the valve unit to tend to move upwardly and increase the pressure of said bend on the sealing member to increase the sealing effect thereof.

13. An improved receptacle for containing a substance under pressure comprising a cylindrical container having an inturned edge adjacent an open end thereof forming a short annular flange and having an annular groove in the side wall spaced therefrom, a valve unit having a valve means and a laterally extending mounting portion to fit over the open end of the container to form a closure therefor and having a depending flange at the edge thereof and extending below said laterally extending mounting portion to fit over and engage the side wall of said container, and a resilient sealing member between the inturned edge of the container and the overlying portion of the mounting portion to form a seal therebetween, the portion of the depending flange remote from said laterally extending portion being bent into said annular groove to secure said valve unit to the container in sealing relation therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,960,393 Otten May 29, 1934 2,154,349 OBrien Apr. 11, 1939 2,487,434 Geiss et al. Nov. 8, 1949 2,615,597 Tomasek Oct. 28, 1952 

